About Us
Smyrna UMC and Wingate UMC received a Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF) grant from The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program which helped us create and establish this project known as G.I.F.T. Aquaponics. G.I.F.T. Aquaponics is an organic approach to true community balance and partnership. We provide fresh produce as well as healthy eating information to vulnerable populations (food deserts) in Anson and Union County. With our Aquaponics unit and Shepherd’s Garden, we provide easy access to fresh produce by bringing the produce to people at their location and connecting with them on various levels. This project connects: faith and food on a deeper level; promotes community partnership and fellowship through events; and teaches about the importance of living a healthier lifestyle through the food people eat. This grant has given us the opportunity to partner with Wingate University which helps provide college students with hands on, experiential, and service learning opportunities. Also, invaluable internships to college, community college, and local high school students have been provided by this grant. This grant has provided the resources to serve multiple communities fresh produce including those who are not able to obtain healthy meals on a regular basis. These communities have been effected in various ways due to COVID-19, and we are planning to use our current platform to provide each of them with fresh produce that helps them remain healthy, as well as, provide us with a means to stay involved with the community in a safe and manageable way during this time. This is the third year we have most gratefully received this grant to work together in addressing food needs in Anson & Union counties. We hope and pray that this project will continue to grow for years to come.
If you would like to know what each letter in G.I.F.T. represents and its purpose , click here.